PRICINPLE OF EFFECTIVE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING (Deut. 31:12-13)

PRICINPLE OF EFFECTIVE

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING (Deut. 31:12-13)

INTRODUCTION

If we are going to be faithful to ourselves we shall agree that many of our churches are not growing today, and one of the reasons is traceable to the poor performance of our Sunday school teaching department. 70 percent of our today churches are doing Sunday school, but the effects are not yet felt within the body of Christ. From the look of things in our generation, its looks like the purpose of God for establishing the department of Sunday school into His church has been defeated, the reason cannot be far from poor way of handling it. It is an open secret that Sunday school teachers are closer to the church members than the Pastor. the labour of our pastors could have been  lightened if Sunday school teachers stand in their positions. This is because it was the Sunday school teachers that are suppose to lay the foundation for the Christian faith of the church members. You should accept the responsibilities that whatever happens in the church today, you as a Sunday school teacher should be held responsible for it, because you laid foundation for their Christian journey.

If we have a rebellion member, a fornicator, an irregular member, a stingy member etc. we should know that God will trace it back to you as their Sunday school teacher. Whatever we want the church to be is in our hands as a Sunday school teacher.

As the name implies, it is a school that runs on Sundays especially in the morning when people are in the presence of God

Effective Sunday school programme should incorporate both effectiveness and efficiency

EFFECTIVENESS: is the capacity of producing a desire result when something is deemed effective, it means it has an intended or expected outcome, or produced a deep vivid impression Acts 2:37-38

EFFICIENCY: is the amount of competence, ability, skill, expertise, readiness and professionalism that is input in a work towards the output of the system. Matt 7:28-29

THE ORIGIN OF SUNDAY SCHOOL

                                                                        

The Sunday Bible School was originated by “ROBERT RAIKES” a journalist who lived in England. He’s the one who started the Sunday bible school programme in “July 1780 A.D” and the programme started in a woman’s house called “MERIED TH” with some little children with the aims of training the children the main subject of mathematics and how to read and write. He (ROBERT RAIKES) announced from one house to another and gathered the children for training. He provided food, clothing and care for them and also taught them the word of God. Because the Lord was with him, his goal was achieved.

SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT

Between 1800 and 1900, this Sunday bible school has grown to a level that cannot be rubbished and formed part of church programmes, having seen the need for children to be taught Christians education rather than secular education only. Deut. 31:12-13.

In 1881, almost every denomination began to organize Sunday bible school programme. It later grew and included adults, and later inculcated camp meetings, retreat, seminars and conferences.

PEOPLE THAT WERE MOTIVATED THROUGH ROBERT RAIKES

A.   The founder of Methodist church (commanded all their church branches to start it immediately)

B.   The founder of Apostolic Faith (till it extent to our country Nigeria).

C.   Assemblies of God Church (worldwide)

D.   Now it is part of the programmes of almost all churches

ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL

The Sunday bible school which began as the children class now grew to the level that the aged people could attend. The organisation and administration should be done with the wisdom of God. The number of students should be between six to ten, with two teachers each.

OFFICERS OF THE SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL

A.   Co-ordinator or superintendent

B.   Teachers

C.   Assistant Teachers

D.   Class secretary

                      THE PURPOSE OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

a.     To bring the sinners to the Lord

b.    To bring the expected revival

c.      To establish the believer in the faith

d.    To clarify and inculcate church values

e.      To teach doctrinal and biblical issues

f.      To protect the image and testimony of Christ and His church

g.     To integrate new converts and new comers in the church and the body of Christ

h.    To equip the believers in the church work force and ministries

PREACHING AND TEACHING MINISTRY

Preaching is different from teaching, though look the same but it use to come in different ways or different method of approach.

PREACHING AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING

If we critically look at this topic we will know that one is easier than the other e.g.

1.     Preaching comes from the heart of preacher alone; he’s the only one who knows what he wants to preach.

2.     The preacher talks alone in many cases.

3.     Preachers carry an unquestionable authority while preaching.

4.     Preaching time is generally shorter than teaching time                 

THE MINISTRY OF THE TEACHER

The main Greek word which is used in regards to the teaching ministry “DIDASKO”. The root word simply means to teach or to instruct. It is the process of explaining something. By this process,  knowledge or doctrine is given or imparted to another.

THE ORIGIN OF TEACHING MINISTRY

Christ’s great command to His disciples before His return to heaven was to make disciples of all nations and teach them to observe all things He had commanded them (Matt. 28:18:20). Because of the nature and the instruction given to teacher, therefore:

1.     A teacher should never stop learning. Rom. 2:21

2.     A teacher must know the word of God. Mark 12:24

3.     A teacher must be able to teach by example. John 13:13-14

4.     A teacher needs to be very aware of his words. Matt.22:15

5.     A teacher seeks to bring others to his level and beyond. Matt 10:24-25

6.     A teacher greatest reward is to see lives changed by God’s word

In conclusion, all Sunday school teachers are advised not to preach in their classes but to teach by allowing:

1.     Their students to contribute to the teaching.

2.     Using simple and touchable examples and illustrations.

3.     Helping them to memorise some bible verses and some key words

4.     Making the Sunday school manual available for them

5.     Giving rooms for them to ask questions during and after the teaching

6.     Make responsible altar calls after a major point has been stressed or emphasised in the teaching

POWER OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER

God gives certain powers to teachers this includes but not limited to:

1.     Power to plant the seed.

2.     Ability to paint the true picture of Jesus and the Church

3.     Power of establishment into the body of Christ.

4.     Power to posses them for Jesus or yourself.

5.     Power to determine the future of the church and the body of Christ

            METHOD OF TEACHING IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

Under this sub-topic we shall examine 5 other issues

A. PREPARING FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHING

1. There should be sufficient time and appropriate day for the preview of the lessons to be taught.

2. Absented teacher should not teach, and if it is rampart, discipline should be considered

3. The manual should be made ready earlier before the preview and made available for the teachers

4. There should be remarks on the attendance of the students in the last class

5. All the Sunday school officials and other church workers that might be engrossed with church duties during the schools should attend the preview e.g. children teachers, church bus driver, ushers and others (but it is not another workers meeting)

B. DIVISION OF CLASSES                                               

What determines how students are placed in classes are but not limited to:

1.     Age

2.     Level of spirituality

3.     Gender

4.     Church expectation or goal over a given period of time

5.     Batches of converts and new comers to the church (in case of an evangelical church)

TEACHER’S POSTURE IN CLASS 

The teaching, the environment or the place, the maturity of the teacher and the students with the level of grace of the teacher determined largely his posture.

 There are situations when Jesus

a.     Stood. Lk. 4:17-19, Neh. 8:1-6

b.     Sat. Lk. 5:1-3, matt. 13:1-3

But the class teacher is not expected to

a.     Stoop low

b.     Sit down carelessly

c.      Lean on poles to suggest weariness

d.     Stand (without gesculation)

e.      Carelessly move about to cause distraction

Part of his posture is his dressing. It must be

a.     Neat

b.     Decent

c.      Welcoming

d.     Not exposing or revealing

e.      Christianly (in conformity with the scriptures)

f.       Noiseless

TEACHING METHODOLOGIES

 Teaching methodologies comprise of the principles and methods used for instruction. Commonly used ones may include: 

a.     Class participation-letting the class initiate the learning process. E.g. the discussion between Jesus and the woman of Samaria. (John 4)

b.     Demonstration, dramatic or modelling. Lk. 9:46-48

c.      Recitation

d.     Memorization. Lk. 24:25-27

e.      Questioning method. Matt 16:13-19

f.       Lecturing. Lk. 4:15-22